Why disregard people’s safety? - FMT
Despite a court ruling that acknowledged the threat to the safety of 10 families in Green Cow, developers pushed ahead with their development by obtaining an ex-parte injunction.
KUALA
LUMPUR: An activist has questioned the motives of two developers in
Cameron Highlands in disregarding the safety of 10 families in their
pursuit to build four-storey shoplots on a hillslope in Green Cow, Kea
Farm.
“Why are they disregarding the safety of the people in favour of
profits?” Cameron Highlands PSM secretary-general B Suresh Kumar asked.
On Oct 13 last year, local residents S Nagarajan, S Thanabalan and
Suresh were detained for blocking bulldozers from entering the land that
is to be developed.
“We were charged with wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation,” said Suresh.
However on July 30 this year, Cameron Highlands magistrate Nik Habri
Muhamad released the three without their defence being called on the
grounds that residents acted to restrain developers because their homes
were under the threat of being demolished.
Nik Habri had also pointed out that the bulldozer driver had no
licence and a developer’s permit to move the land was also doubtful.
The rest of the residents had set up camp at the land since May 25 this year to prevent the developers from developing the land.
Meanwhile, the first developer had obtained a court order against
Suresh and three of the residents on Aug 17 so that they can continue
with the development.
On July 17, Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and MIC president G
Palanivel in a joint press statement acknowledged that the residents living
near the hill were in danger and announced that a plot of land had been
identified to relocate all 10 families but no action has been taken
yet.
“We want the state government to provide land for the residents and
compensation from the developers to rebuild their homes,” said Suresh.
PSM chairman Nasir Hashim also criticised the lackadaisical attitude of the developers.
PAS environment bureau chairman Zulkifli Omar, who was also present
during the press conference, said this case proved that the government’s
“Janji Ditepati” Merdeka theme was merely a slogan.
“It is odd to note that the district office has given the green light to develop the steep slopes,” Zulkifli added.
Suresh also announced the launch of Green Cow Cameron Legal Fund.
